John Bradshaw Layfield, who is known in the WWE as JBL, publicly announced his departure from his current role as a SmackDown Live television commentator this past Friday evening.
Layfield stated on social media that he will now be entirely focused on working with at-risk youth for his Bermuda-based charity, but will remain part of the WWE family.
Courtesy of WWE
Sources close to the situation informed Sports Illustrated that the decision for Layfield to exit the WWE began 11 months ago when his contract expired last October. Layfield put in his notice well before rumors and allegations were hurled in his direction during Mauro Ranallo’s sudden disappearance from the WWE.